Fuel and oil additive

ABSTRACT

A fuel and oil additive comprising a composition of matter containing napthalene, camphor, toluene, benzyl alcohol, and gasoline. The composition may additionally contain a small amount of a lower alcohol such as isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol.

United States Patent 1 1 Villacampa 1 1 FUEL AND OIL ADDITIVE [76]Inventor: Eugenio G. Villaeampa, Av. Morelos No. 31-203, Mexico 1, D.F.,Mexico [22] Filed: July 23, I970 [21] Appl. No.: 57,835

[4 1 Dec. 9, 1975 1,570,161 1/1926 McKee 44/56 1,587,899 6/1926 Carrollet 31,. 1,820,395 8/1931 Lovell et 231....

2,088,000 7/1937 Savage 44/56 Primary ExaminerDaniel E. Wyman AssistantExaminer-Y. Harris-Smith Attorney, Agent, or Fz'rmEdward A. Sokolski{57] ABSTRACT A fuel and oil additive comprising a composition of mattercontaining napthalene, camphor, toluene, benzyl alcohol, and gasoline.The composition may additionally contain a small amount of a loweralcohol such as isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol.

5 Claims, N0 Drawings FUEL AND OIL ADDITIVE lnnumerable compositionshave been formulated to improve the performance of gasoline enginesinternal combustion engines. Separate compositions have been developedto improve performance of diesel engines. Different compositions havealso existed for fuel oil additives. In each of the aforegoing threeclasses, separate compositions of matter have been required for eachcategory. In other words, generally the same composition that was usedas a gasoline additive to improve performance of the engine could notalso be added to the oil to achieve improved performances as a resultthereof. Generally, fuel and oil additive compositions achieved improvedperformance in one single category. For example, the horsepower of anengine might be increased through the addition of a given additive to agasoline burning internal combustion engine, but the fuel consumption ofthe engine would not be reduced. Alternatively, an additive might beutilized to reduce the smoke emission of an engine, yet performance ofthe engine would not be affected. To date, there is no known additivefor internal combustion engines that will serve to simultaneously reducethe fuel consumption, increase the horsepower and reduce the noxiousexhaust gases such as reduce the hydrocarbon output, carbon monoxideproduction and nitrous oxide in the exhaust gases from the engine.Further, there is no known additive that will achieve the foregoing whenadded to fuel and then when added to an oil for internal combustionengine will effect a reduction in the oil consumption of the engine.

With the present emphasis on reduction of smog and thus the productionof noxious gases from internal combustion engines, it is important thatadditives utilized in such engines do not contribute to the additionalproduction of such gases. in fact, it is obviously preferred that anadditive serve to reduce these gases. Particular gases of concern arehydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide.

Prior to the herein invention both camphor and naphthalene had beenadded to gasoline in order to increase the performance of internalcombustion engines. Though improved results are obtained through theaddition of either camphor or naphthalene alone, it is well known thatthose materials cannot be continuously used in an engine, sincedeleterious results are found.

Naphthalene and camphor are both highly unsaturated hydrocarbons whichpossess higher boiling points and lower flame propagation rates than thebenzene series of hydrocarbons which comprise the principal ingredientsof commercial grade gasolines. However, both possess poor burningcharacteristics, resulting in heavy smoking in an open flame and insooty exhaust when used in internal combustion engines. Addition ofeither, or both, naphthalene or camphor to gasoline in sufficientquantities to affect the flame propagation rate of the gasoline (i.e.,increase the effective octane of the gasoline) also results in areduction in combustion efficiency and a corresponding increase in thequantity of unburned carbon; conversely, reducing the quantity of eitheror both to a point where excess unburned carbon was not produced wouldresult in so little of either or both naphthalene or camphor beingpresent as to cause no significant change in the flame propagation rate.In view of the foregoing, camphor has never been successfully added on acontinuous basis to gasoline compositions in operating automobile orother internal combustion engines. Thus, one of the objects of theherein invention is to provide means for obtaining the beneficialperformance results through the addition of camphor and naphthalene yetobtain none of the detrimental effects heretofore resulting fromaddition of these agents in the past.

Thus, an object of this invention is to provide a novel compositionuseful as an additive to both fuels and oils to obtain improvedperformance and other properties in the operation of internalcombustsion engines.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel composition ofmatter which when added to fuel will reduce the production of variousnoxious gases emitted from the engine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novelcomposition of matter which will provide significantly improvedperformance in internal combustion engines when in small proportions tothe fuels for the engines.

The above and other objects of this invention will be further apparentfrom the following detailed descrip' tion and examples.

Briefly, the herein invention comprises a composition of mattercontaining from 16 to 19.5 weight percent naphthalene, 6 to 8.7 weightpercent camphor, 28 to 42 weight percent of a gasoline fraction, 36 to45 weight percent toluene, and 1.8 to 3.0 weight percent benzyl alcohol.The composition may further contain from O to 1.0 weight percent of alower alkyl alcohol of l to 8 carbon atoms such as methyl alcohol, orisopropyl alcohol or the like. It has been found that when the abovecomposition is added to fuel, there is a noticeable increase in thehorsepower of the internal combustion engine utilizing the fuel.Further, there is a reduction in the fuel oil consumption rate.Additionally, as will be seen from specific examples, there is areduction in the hydrocarbon output, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxideproduction from such internal combustion engines having the additivepresent in small amounts. When added to the oil utilized in the engines,a noticeable decrease in fuel oil consumption is achieved. Test datahave shown that the additive can provide improved results with bothgasoline engines and diesel engines. It has particularly been visuallyobserved that smoke producing engines have the production of smokegreatly reduced upon the addition of the aforegoing composition to thefuel used therein. It is believed that the invention will be furtherunderstood from the following description and examples.

Many of the individual components utilized in the herein additivecomposition of this invention have been previously used alone or invarious combinations as additives for fuels and the like. Unexpectedly,however, it has been found when the various particular materialscomprising the composition of this invention are combined and formulatedaccording to the method to be described herein, the resultingcomposition provides results heretofore not obtainable when thesematerials are used alone or in combination with other materials thanthose used herein. The additive of the herein invention is a liquidwhich can be readily dissolved in a fuel or oil. However, two of thecomponents of the additive of the composition are normally solid andthus must be suitably dissolved into the composition of the invention.These two components are naphthalene and camphor which are normallyfurnished as crystalline materials. Naphthalene is present in an amountfrom 16 to l9.5 weight percent of the composition. preferably containingfrom 18.5 to 18.75 weight percent, while the camphor is present in arange of6 to 8 .7 weight percent and preferably from 7.0 to 7.25 weightpercent. The naphthalene and camphor crystals are first heated in asuitable container such as heated jacketed container until the mixtureis liquid. This occurs at a temperature between 175 and 210F, dependingupon the purity of the components used. Thus, by initially heating thetwo solid components to a liquid state they will more readily go intosolution and be intimately and properly mixed with the remainingcomponents of the composition.

In a separate container, the remaining ingredients of the compositionare mixed. These include the gasoline fraction in an amount ranging from28 to 42 weight percent, and preferably from 33 to 37 weight percent,toluene in the amount ranging from 36 to 45 weight percent andpreferably 38 to 42 weight percent, and benzyl alcohol in an amountranging from 1.8 to 3.0 weight percent and preferably 2 to 3 weightpercent. In a container having a suitable mixing means such as a paddleor other stirrer, there is first disposed the gasoline fraction. To thisis then added the toluene in an amount required, while stirring. Thetoluene is added to the gasoline because mixing is continued for aperiod of time sufficient to assure that the two components areintimately mixed with each other.

Since toluene is highly explosive and quite dangerous to handle whenpresent alone, it is desirable to achieve a good dispersion of thematerial in the gasoline whereby the explosion hazard is substantiallyreduced and thus the safety of the process is increased. To the mixtureof gasoline and toluene there is then added the required amount ofbenzyl alcohol and stirring is continued. This is then followed byadding the heated liquid solids to form the resulting composition of theinvention. Mixing then continues for a short period of time on the orderof to l 5 minutes to assure good dispersion of the components. It hasbeen found that the resulting composition should not be utilized forapproximately a 24 hour period after the mixing in order to achieve themost beneficial results thereof. It is possible that there is perhaps aninteraction between the individual components during this period of timewhich will go to completion and provide the desired results used as anadditive.

In addition to adding the benzyl alcohol, a small amount ranging from 0up to 1.0 weight percent of a lower alcohol, such as ethyl or isopropylalcohol, can be further added to the composition. This can be done atthe same time the benzyl alcohol is added. The lower alcohol is believedto further aid in the solvency of the components with each other thoughsufficiently good results are obtained when this material is notpresent.

The gasoline fraction utilized can vary widely so long as it is suitablyfor the operation of an internal combustion engine. The gasolinefraction should meet the normal requirements for this material in thatit should be composed of hydrocarbons with boiling points ranging from60 to 200C, including straight chain and branched chain paraffins,naphthenes and aromatic hydrocarbons. it has been found that normalgasoline fractions can be utilized, or the gasoline compositions thatare particularly suited and designed for use in automobiles such asdelivered from the gasoline pump at a fuel station. Such commercialgasolines will contain 4 small amounts of various additives such as leadtetraethyl, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors and the like.

It should be pointed out that various trade name products and the likenot referred to as gasolines yet are suitable as a gasoline componentherein, since they meet the definition of the gasoline, having a properboiling point range, vapor pressure and performance characteristics whenutilized in internal combustion engines. The usual source of gasoline isthe third fraction obtained in the distillation of petroleum and crudeoil. Further, gasoline is obtained by cracking, polymerization and otherchemical reactions through which the naturally occuring petroleumhydrocarbons are converted to those that have superior fuel properties.

In order to best obtain the results of this invention, a minimum amountof the additive composition should be present in the fuel or oil. Whenutilized in a gasoline internal combustion engine, the additivecomposition should be present in at least an amount equivalent to 0.50to 5 parts by volume of the additive to 5000 parts of the gasoline fuel.Surprisingly, it has been found that increasing the amount of theadditive above the foregoing range does not in any way deleteriouslyaffect the performance of the engine or the surfaces of the engine whichthe additive contacts. Tests in fact indicate that if an engine ranentirely on the additive of this invention no adverse effects areobtained.

In a diesel engine, the additive should be preferably present in anamount ranging from 1 to 5 parts by volume of the additive to 4000 partsof the diesel fuel. Up to 40 parts of the additive to 9000 parts ofdiesel fuel is possible. When utilized as an oil additive, thecomposition should preferably be present in an amount ranging from 5 to30 parts by volume of the additive to 1000 parts of the oil. Since abasic component of the herein additive is gasoline, it should beapparent that there is a limit on the amount that can be used in boththe diesel fuel and oil applications. Thus a diesel fuel can contain upto 1.0 volume percent of the additive and oil can have up to 3 volumepercent present.

The additive of the invention can be added to for example the gas tankof an automobile concurrent with the filling of the tank with gasoline,or it can be added of course directly to the gasoline so that it will beinjected into the car from the pump. The same of course applies for boththe diesel and fuel aspects and the oil aspects of the invention in thatthe additive can be either added to the automobile or vehicle separatelyor integrally mixed in with the diesel oil or fuel. It is believed thatthe invention will be further understood from the following examplesEXAMPLE I lite rs of the additive of the herein invention wereformulated. In a first vessel which comprised a jacketed containerheated by circulating hot water, there was added 18.4 kilograms ofnaphthalene crystals and 7.0 kilograms of camphor crystals. The hotwater had a temperature of 200F. In a short period of time the heatedcrystals liquified. In a separate vessel, there was first added 46liters of gasoline. To the gasoline there was then added 46 liters oftoluene. After the addition of the toluene, the mixture was thenstirred. There was then added to the mixture two liters of benzylalcohol followed by one liter of isopropyl alcohol. To the second vesselthere was then poured the heated contents from the first vessel, that isthe naphthalene and camphor. The mixture was then stirred. The resultingcomposition was allowed to cool and was not utilized until after 24hours had elapsed. The same composition was formulated utilizing agasoline fraction known as Shell Sol 345, with results that wereequivalent to those utilizing a conventional gasoline fraction.

EXAMPLE [I A known range 370 horsepower Diesel powered tractor wastested by adding 1 part of the composition of Example I to 4000 parts ofthe diesel fuel. Additionally, 1 part of the composition of Example Iwas added to 130 parts of the oil used in the tractor. The test wasconducted over a one week period in which approximately 800 gallons ofDiesel fuel were consumed, during which the tractor was driven 4200miles. The fuel oil consumption was reduced 9%. The oil consumption wasreduced 57%, while a 5.5% increase in horsepower was recorded. Further,there appeared to be an obvious reduction in smoke emission.

EXAMPLE III The composition of Example I was added to Diesel equipmentutilized to run electric generators in a mine application. A firstDiesel motor was part of an Allis- Chalmers IOOKW Skid-Mounted unit,which was situated at a mine portal at an elevation of 4,225 feet abovesea level. The unit was operated continuously for approximately 20 hourseach day, six days a week, at an ambient temperature between 39 and 79F.The unit was operating under a constant load which was 40% of its ratedcapacity. The fuel consumption before adding the additive of Example Iwas 2.25 gallons per hour. One part of the additive of the invention wasadded to 4000 parts of diesel fuel, and the engine then run and measuredfour times each day for six consecutive days. The fuel consumption wasreduced to 2.0 gallons per hour.

A second generator was used which was a 35KW skid-mounted unit, drivenby a Continental engine, and was stationed at an elevation of 4,080 feetabove sea level, with an ambient temperature range of 39 to 79%F. Thisgenerator was also operated approximately 12 hours each day, six days aweek, under a very constant load of approximately 80% of its ratedcapacity. Before adding the additive of this invention, the fuelconsumption was 4.28 gallons per hour. After utilizing one part of theadditive per 3500 parts of the diesel fuel, the fuel consumption beingmeasured over six days was 3.54 gallons per hour.

EXAMPLE IV A 1964 Chrysler with about 70,000 miles was tested and wascold started and run through a customary seven cycles involving 7 modeseach in accordance with standard tests set forth by pollution controlboard in the Los Angeles area. There were added 30 milliliters of thecomposition of Example I per each tank of gasoline. The capacity of theautomobile tested was 22 gallons of gasoline. Additionally, 2 ounces ofthe additive was added during a 1,000 mile test run to the crank caseoil. Tests were performed particularly to obtain the exhaustcharacteristics. The hydrocarbon reduction at a cold start was in therange of 19 to 21 percent. At a hot start the reduction was 46 percent.The carbon monoxide reduction at a cold start was 3 to 6 percent, and ata hot start the reduction was 55 percent. The nitrous oxide reduction ofthe exhaust gas upon a cold 6 start was 3 to 6 percent and upon a hotstart was 6 percent.

EXAMPLE IV EXAMPLE V A Honda E-30OA engine driven generator was tested.The engine had a 4-stroke cycle and was a single cylinder design, havingan F-head configuration. The compression ratio of the engine was 5.3: land its power output at 3600 RPM. was 0.74 horsepower. The engine drivesa permanent magnet type alternator utilizing a choke as a voltagecontrol device. The constant rated output of the generator is 300 Va atl20 volts. The load utilized for continuous testing consisted of two 200watt light bulbs which consumed 335 Va at 120 volts. The power outputmeasurements were measured with a 750 Watt wattmeter. The generator wasfirst run for 5 hours on regular gasoline. After 5 hours of running atthe above mentioned load, the generator was tested for maximum powerwoutput which was found to be 360 watts. It was then tested with the samebrand of gasoline containing one part of the additive of Example I to4000 parts of the gasoline. After 1 hour of operation, the maximum poweroutput increased to 375 watts. After 2 hours of operation, thisincreased again to 380 watts. The maximum power output then remainedconstant for the next hours, utilizing the gasoline containing theadditive. The fuel consumption rate was monitored at 30-hour intervalsduring the 90-hour test period. The fuel consumption rate at the end ofthe first 30 hours operation with the additive was 0.132 gallons perhour. At the end of 60 hours it was still 0.132 gallons per hour. At 90hours this decreased to 0.131 gallons per hour. At the end of this testperiod, the engine was then again run for 25 hours with the same brandof gasoline unmodified with the additive of the invention. The fuelconsumption rate for this 25-hour period was 0.158 gallons per hour. Themaximum power output at the end of hours of the operation of the enginewas 360 watts. Thus, there was an increase in power output utilizing themodified gasoline of 5.6%. There was a decrease in the specific fuelconsumption of 16%.

EXAMPLE VI A one-and-one-half ton truck powered by a 230 horsepowergasoline engine and operated in short-haul industrial service was testedover a 42-day period. Over the first 20 days the odometer reading wentfrom 99,348 miles to 100,275 miles, for a total mileage of 927 miles,and a total of l69 gallons of normal untreated regular grade gasolinewas consumed, for an average fuel consumption of 0. l 82 gallons permile. Over the following 22 days, the odometer reading went from 100,275miles to l0l,455 miles, for a total of 1,180 miles, and a total ofgallons of regular grade gasoline, treated in the rate of 1 part of thecomposition of Example I to 5,000 parts of gasoline, was consumed, foran average fuel consumption of 0.l44 gallons per 8 3. The composition ofclaim 1 comprising: l8.5 to l8.75 weight percent naphthalene 7.0 to 7.25weight percent camphor, 33 to 37 weight percent of a gasoline fraction,38 to 42 weight percent toluene. and 2 to 3 weight percent benzylalcohol. 4. The composition of claim 3 further comprising: up to lbweight percent of an alkyl alcohol of l to 8 carbon atoms. 5. Thecomposition of claim 4 wherein said alkyl alcohol is isopropyl alcohol.

1. A LIQUID COMPOUND OF MATTER COMPRISING: 16 TO 19.5 WEIGHT PERCENTNAPHTHALENE. 6 TO 8.7 WEIGHT PERCENT CAMPHOR. 28 TO 42 WEIGHT PERCENT OFA GASOLINE FRACTION, 36 TO 45 WEIGHT PERCENT TOLUENE, AND 1.8 TO 3.0WEIGHT PERCENT ALCOHOL.
 2. The composition of claim 1 furthercomprising: up to 1.0 weight percent of an alkyl alcohol of 1 to 8carbon atoms.
 3. The composition of claim 1 comprising: 18.5 to 18.75weight percent naphthalene 7.0 to 7.25 weight percent camphor, 33 to 37weight percent of a gasoline fraction, 38 to 42 weight percent toluene,and 2 to 3 weight percent benzyl alcohol.
 4. The composition of claim 3further comprising: up to 1.6 weight percent of an alkyl alcohol of 1 to8 carbon atoms.
 5. The composition of claim 4 wherein said alkyl alcoholis isopropyl alcohol.